Political Science and Government at Winona State University

Winona State's political science program starts graduates at essentially the national median salary, but what happens in the following years tells a more interesting story. While first-year earnings of $35,631 barely edge out the national average, four years later graduates are earning $47,656—a 34% jump that suggests this program opens doors beyond entry-level positions. Among Minnesota's 23 political science programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, placing it solidly in the upper half statewide though still trailing flagships like the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities by about $7,500.

The debt picture is genuinely favorable: at $25,875, graduates borrow only about two-thirds of their first year's salary and carry less debt than three-quarters of political science programs nationwide. That's particularly important given political science's reputation for requiring graduate school—starting with manageable debt preserves flexibility for further education. The stronger-than-average earnings growth suggests graduates successfully transition into roles with real advancement potential rather than plateauing early.

The caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, a few outlier careers could skew these numbers significantly. That said, the combination of below-average debt, solid earnings trajectory, and middle-of-the-pack positioning within Minnesota makes this a reasonable choice for students committed to political science, especially those looking to minimize undergraduate borrowing before potentially pursuing law school or graduate programs.